The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-12-31

Ike parts or Dea0tltul dream Ine broad, glimmering river flowed slowly by; the boats were gathered about the pier which were to take us up into the hills that lowered dim and mysterious in the distance. Mrs. Estey and part of the gay crowd were embarked when Judge Thurston's carriage drove down to the pier, and Miss Ellinor, very pale, but smiling, allighted. Dr. Scudder hurried up to receive her. He was the chief phy- sician in the village, and an old, trusted friend in the Thurston family.
 ''It was kind in you to give me this great pleasure" I heard her say to him.
 "Look!" whispered Netty. "Father and mother have come down to see her of! They made an idol of her. It is perfectly ridiculousl They are going with her to New York tomorrow. It is three years since I was in New York. Hurryl Hurry Do get aboard, all of you!"
 There were two boats yet at the pier, a large one, into which Lou, Netty and I, with our chaperone and the two rowers, were soon seated. The other was the "Dart, !" small bat teau belonging to Dr. Scudder. It was usually anchored out of sight at the end of the pier. Just as we pushed of, the doctor gave orders to have it brought round for Miss Elli- nor. A cry of dismay rose from the crowd of boys on the pier The pretty little "Dart," which erybody knew with its scarlet and black bands, was lying on the shore covered with mud.
 "What is the matter9" said the doc- tor, angrily. "She was clean and dry last night"
 Our rowers stopped to see the end of the affair. noticed that Netty or dered them, impatiently, to go on, and that Jim Stryper, "riyer-rat," slunk to the back of the crowd.
 The "Dart" was examined by Dr. Scudder. He found that two large holes were broken in her hull.
 "She is useless" said the doctor, quietly "whoever did it made thor Ou&u WOTk Ok II. lb kuClC AO DOht that I can hire for the day?"
 "There is not boat left; the pie nickers have taken them all" the boys assured him.
 "Go on! go on!" whispered Netty. "There is no room for them"
 Our boat shot into the middle of the stream, but not before we heard the doctor say "I would not have you lose this day for my years in- come, Ellinor. Twill find out who did it, and punish them to the extent of the law"
 "No, do not" she said, earnestly. 'ELet it go. It matters little after all" I fancied that her eyes followed Netty with sad reproach as we rowed away.
 "You should not have done that" I said to her.
 "She laughed uneasily.
 "I? I did nothing. It was Jim Stryper but it cost all my months allowance. Jim charges high"
 It was a successful picnic. The salad was delicious, the scenery was beauti- ful, the "beaux" attentive; but had a guilty, uncomfortable feeling in my heart all day.
 Netty talked and laughed loudly. It seemed to me that she was trying to deaden some inward pain.
 It was late when we got home, tired and sleepy. I walked up the street with her. "How dark the house is p she said. "Come in with me a min- ute, Kitty"
 A dim light was burning in the hall. Mrs. Stone, Judge Thurston's sister, came out to meet us.
 "You here, Aunt Maryw cried Netty. "What is the matter?"
 "Nothing, my dear; but your father and mother took Ellinor to New York to-day as she could not go up the river. Dr. Scudder went with them. am to stay with you until they re- turn"
 "Dr. Scudder went with them? What for? Is"
 "I may as we'll tell you, Netty; think you should have been told be- fore, but Ellinor wished to spare you. She has disease for which the only cure is an operation. They have gone to surgeon in New York to perform it."
 "I never knew"
 "No, Ellinor complained very little i; but that is the reason why she did not marry. Surely you know? She was engaged for years to a man whom she loved very dearly. She wanted to go up the river to-day, they told me. She had passed so many happy days with him there when she was younger, and she had a kind of home sickness to look at the place once again, and to say goodbye to 1t; but something prevented her"
 Nettie started up and began to pace A~ l. n .xA